[ad_1]
Twenty years ago exactly this Thursday, France won its first world star, a few days after eliminating Croatia in the semi-final: the Blues find this opponent Sunday in the World Cup final, Didier Deschamps is still here, but the new generation wants to write his own story
"I do not have a star, it's on the shirt but I have not won it, and I want to pick her up ": Paul Pogba, who was five years old in 1998, sums up well the spirit of the young team of France, respectful of its elders, but ambitious, wanting to leave an imprint in turn. 19659003] Even if they were young, or not yet born like Kylian Mbappé, all the Bleus knew have the past. The photo had been around the world: Lilian Thuram on his knees, his finger on the mouth, as dazed after registering a double, the only two goals in Blue of his long career (142 selections, national record). Croatia was eliminated 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup
"Thuram … It has been the subject of discussion for the last 20 years!", Says Zlatko Dalic, current coach of Croatia. 19659003] The common points between 1998 and 2018 abound. Lateral Benjamin Pavard made his "Tutu" by scoring a flying volley against Argentina (4-3) which recalls the improbable doubled of his distant elder. "I never dreamed of scoring a goal like Pavard!" I was not aware of what was going on, "Thuram told AFP.
-" They will be here "-
Common points as many signs of destiny? No, there is a match to win. Pogba, who has donned the habit of leader, hammers a speech of combat, to prevent any relaxation: "It is sure, the Croats do not have star, they want one They have made a very beautiful course , they want the victory, just like us. "
In Croatia too, comparisons flourish on both checkered teams, twenty years apart.
Before the tournament, the former Croatian international and former striker de Marseille Alen Boksic highlighted with AFP "a fantastic midfielder, especially Modric, a fabulous player, the best Croatian player of all time". But dreaded "maybe a bench not long enough or deep enough compared to other big teams: we have 13, 14 players, not 20".
Indeed, the 2018 team did not turn much, but its executives carried it, like captain Modric but also Ivan Rakitic or Mario Mandzukic, author of the victorious goal against England (2-1 ap) in half.
The Croats remain besides on three prolongations in three knockout rounds, which makes it another match in ten days, while the French enjoyed an extra day of rest on Wednesday.
"When we play a final, the tiredness pbades after. do not think too much about a match, we think we can be world champion, even with the fatigue They will be there, they will be present, they will continue to run as on all their matches, "relativised Samuel Umtiti.
– The defeat of 2016 as a lever –
But this Croatian stretch course may do not count. Still lucky to "DD" after the package of the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani in quarter? "He has a lucky star, but we must give him credit" because "it is he who shaped this team", nuance Alain Giresse with AFP.
The luck had however abandoned Deschamps in the final of the Euro-2016, when André-Pierre Gignac found the post and Eder the flaw to give the title to Portugal (1-0 ap).
This is precisely a lever for Pogba, who knows "the taste of defeat in the final "," really not good, very bitter … "
The middle admits that with the 2-0 win against the German world champions in the semifinals," we thought it would be That was the final: against the Portuguese, with their course, we thought it was pre-made, that was our mistake, now it's not the same, we're all aware, focused. We do not want to make the same mistake. "
Another spring unveiled, keep in mind the critics of the first round:" We, we remain as we are, as at the beginning of the competition: + l team where we have doubts, the team that does not play together + … We keep these messages we received at the beginning of the competition, it will be our strength during the final. We're not the favorite, we did not do anything. "Any resemblance to a summer of 1998 after a spring of criticism on the team of Aimé Jacquet …
Source link
